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The aim for each of the students is to prove that they have what it takes to conduct a piece in the London section of Proms in the Park.

The first stage of preparation was a week-long "Baton Camp" for the students in the last week of May. A mentor has been assigned to each student (see below). The mentors are all established professional conductors, and each will work with their respective protégés, helping them to master the disciplines of orchestral, choral and operatic music with Soprano, Rebecca Evans and Tenor, Alfie Boe. Rehearsals continue throughout the summer, with the students learning how to inspire and engage with the orchestra and the music.

In August the students conduct in the weekly show, which is broadcast on BBC Two in front of a studio audience and an international judging panel made up of acknowledged experts in the field. The contestants conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra (and also learn how to conduct a large choir — in this case, the BBC Symphony Chorus). Each week, one student is eliminated: the marks of the judging panel determine the two weakest contestants, and members of the BBC Concert Orchestra then vote to decide who stays and who must go.

The following table (containing the contestants along with their mentors) shows the scores obtained each episode by each contestant, along with those who were eliminated (red), and those who were eligible for elimination, but survived (yellow):